Samira Smiti

In vitro digestion, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of two species of Ruta: Ruta chalepensis and Ruta montana

Abstract Context: Ruta genus (Rutaceae) is abundantly used and described in the most ancient systematic records of medical practice of the Mediterranean world. In Tunisia, this genus is represented by two medicinal and aromatic shrubs: Ruta chalepensis L. and Ruta montana L. Objective: This study investigates the antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition (AChE) activities before and after in vitro gastrointestinal metabolism of leaf decoction of R. chalepensis and R. montana. Materials and methods: We study, in vitro, the effect of the gastrointestinal juices gastric (1.75 mL) or pancreatic (2.5 mL) juices, on the biological activity by the measurement of the antioxidant activity and AChE inhibition during 4 h of decoction extract obtained from the leaves of the two species of Ruta. Results: The results showed that the ability to inhibit the AChE enzyme was similar; being the greatest inhibitory activity exhibited by the ethanol extract (IC50 = 12 ± 1.1 μg/mL) obtained from leaves of R. chalepensis. Conclusion: In conclusion, we showed that there was no appreciable degradation and that the activity was kept constant after gastric and pancreatic juice digestion.

Influence of salt stress on essential oil yield and composition of lemon grass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus L. Spreng. ssp. Laniger (Hook) Maire et Weil)

Cymbopogon is an aromatic plant valued for its citrus scent aroma. In this article, the effect of saline irrigation water on yield and quality of Cymbopogon schoenanthus L. was evaluated. Compounds of essential oils were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and/or 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Results showed that the growth of the aerial part was not affected at a concentration of 50 mmol NaCl. Under salt stress, the content of major chemical compounds was affected differently by the treatment level.

Réponse physiologique de Reaumuria vermiculata cultivé sous contrainte saline

Abstract Reaumuria vermiculata is a gypso—halophytic plant belonging to the Tamaricaceae family. The physiological response of this species, expressed by the weight growth, nutritional response and osmotic adjustment, has been studied. Different NaCl concentrations varying from 0 to 700 mM were tested. We demonstrated that Reaumuria vermiculata is a halophyte with growth none significantly affected by 100 and 300 mM salinity concentration. In fact, the total biomass of cultivated plants at 100 and 300 mM represents 78.5 and 70.5% of the control, respectively. Mineral analysis showed a Na+ accumulation gradient from the roots toward the aerial organs. Indicative of an osmotic strategy for transporting salt compartmentalizing it in vacuoles. Furthermore the proline content regularly increased at medium salinity. Varying from 60 μM.g−1 dry weight in the control aerial organs up to 220 μM.g−1 dry weight at 700 mM NaCl.

Chemical Variability of Two Essential Oils of Tunisian Rue: Ruta montana and Ruta chalepensis

Abstract: The genus Ruta includes some popular aromatic species of the flora of Tunisia, with important medicinal properties. They have been traditionally been used in the folk as herbal remedy medicine for the treatment of a variety of disorders. Information about the essential oil compositions of the Tunisian medicinal plant Ruta montana has not been reported. For this reason the objective of this study was to determine and compare the chemical composition of the essential oils of dried leaves and stems of the two principal Tunisian Ruta species: Ruta montana and Ruta chalepensis. Chemical analyses were performed by GC-MS assays. Essential oil yields was 0.66 %, its the same for all organs. For the chemical composition, independent of species and organs, the major compound for the 4 essential oil was the 2-undecanone. 1-nonene and 2-nonanone were the second major component in R. montana and R. chalepensis essntial oils.

Growth and photosynthesis responses of Rosmarinus officinalis L. to heavy metals at Bougrine mine

Heavy metals pollution is considered as one of the most dangerous environmental problems in agricultural soil, particularly neighboring mining sites. Phytoremediation based on green plants use seems to be an interesting biological solution to detoxify these soils. This study focuses especially on heavy metals effects on Rosmarinus officinalis L. morphological and growth parameters. The site of our research is “Bougrine” mine which represents different zinc, lead and cadmium amounts by geological layers. In opposite to amounts obtained by previous studies made for mining exploration, we thought that zinc content was more important at transition zone than Cenomanian Turonian level. Nevertheless, this element is not the most determinant in plant growth and its morphological parameters. Moreover, R. officinalis L. volume and vigor decreased when soil’s heavy metals content increases. However, this reduction is more related to soil lead content. Despite this decrease, we do not observe any visual phytotoxicity symptom. This aromatic and medicinal species, belonging to Lamiaceae family, could be used as alternative crops in polluted soils. Keywords: Rosmarinus officinalis L., zinc, lead, growth, photosynthesis, “Bougrine” mine African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(2), pp. 150-161

Responses of Cymbopogon schoenanthus to salt stress

Cymbopogon schoenanthus is an aromatic and medicinal plant rich in essential oil. The physiological behavior of this species, related with growth production, the photosynthetic pigments, the nutritional status and the osmotic adjustment were studied. Saline treatments varied from 0 to 150 mM NaCl. The results show that the growth of C. schoenanthus was affected by the salinity and the effect increased with more stress at 100 mM of NaCl. Besides the response of C. schoenanthus to the salt stress, this study has allowed us to conclude that this plant is excluder glycophyte and less tolerant to salt stress. Key words: Cymbopogon schoenanthus , NaCl, growth, mineral nutrition, osmotic adjustment.